The Beppu Onsen Festival (Beppu Onsen Matsuri), held each year in early April, is the town’s biggest celebration, giving thanks to the gods and the earth for the endless bounty of hot springs that has made Beppu Japan’s greatest onsen town. Over several days the whole town comes alive with festivities: colourful parades with music, dance and floats through the streets, a lively hot-spring ‘mikoshi’ (portable shrine), and events across Beppu’s eight hot-spring districts. A much-loved highlight is that many of Beppu’s normally paid public baths open for free during the festival, letting visitors and locals bath-hop and enjoy the springs. Other spectacles include a dramatic ‘ogi-yama’ fire-and-water show and processions. Festive, communal and steamy, the Onsen Festival is a joyful time to experience Beppu’s onsen culture at its most celebratory — usually coinciding with the cherry blossom season too.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Beppu, Oita |
| Hours | Day & evening, early April |
| Admission | Free (many baths free too) |
| Time needed | Half day |
| Best time | Early April (annual) |
What to See
- Many public baths opening for free during the festival.
- Colourful parades with music, dance and floats.
- A lively hot-spring ‘mikoshi’ portable shrine.
- A fire-and-water spectacle and cherry blossom.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with the Beppu Hells and onsen.
- Pair with the Beppu sand bath experience.
- Read our Oita overview .
Getting There
- By train: to Beppu Station, then the festival areas.
- On foot/bus: events across Beppu’s onsen districts.
Tips
Come in early April for the festival, which usually coincides with cherry blossom, and take advantage of the many public baths that open for free to bath-hop around Beppu’s districts. Check the schedule for the parades and the fire-and-water spectacle, bring a towel for the free baths, and combine it with Beppu’s Hells and other onsen experiences.
